MR JEALOUSY

SYNOPSIS:
Half a lifetime ago, when Lester Grimm (Eric Stoltz) was a teenager, he had the unpleasant
experience of watching his date make out with another guy. Ever since then, Lester has had
serious problems trusting women. When Lester meets Ramona (Annabella Sciorra), he vows
that things will be different. Then he learns that Ramona has led a very active sexual
life, and he begins to wonder what she was like before he met her, and whether her past
track record might make her a candidate to cheat on him. One day, he follows one of
Ramona's ex's, a semi-famous author named Dashiell Frank (Christopher Eigeman), and learns
where he attends a twice-weekly group therapy session. Lester promptly joins the group.
Unwilling to reveal his genuine identity and history to Dashiell, Lester pretends to be
his best friend, Vince (Carlos Jacott). But things get a little more complicated than
Lester ever could have imagined.

"This is one of those deftly made little comedies that are tough to market. Why?
Because they're of the character-based, intelligent variety. Lots of talking, lots of
interesting characters, and plenty of verbal repartee to keep one amused and satisfied.
Writer/director Noah Baumbach has a keen eye for character and the spoken word, and this
film, is a sharply observed piece about the dilemmas of modern relationships. All the
themes are there, and one can argue that there's nothing new here on offer, but it's not
originality that counts, but content, and Mr Jealousy is a smart, savvy film, beautifully
structured and impeccably acted, especially by dynamic leads Eric Stoltz and Annabella
Sciorra. Of course, it's a film that also requires much attention by an observant
audience; perhaps that is why the movie has taken a year to land on Australian screens.
Films like this deserve better."Paul Fischer

"Mr Jealousy reminds me of a car with its engine running; it makes the right noises
and has travel potential - but it just doesn't get there. Indeed, it doesn't even get
going. The problem is, as usual, in the script. The concept is terrific, basically, and
the structure that interlinks the characters is essentially dynamic. But many of the
characters don't fully engage, and the action is too often spoken instead of being action
- as in the act of doing."Andrew L. Urban